Our mutual goal through a custom order is to create a rug that exactly meets your needs.
When you put the rug in your home or office it will add continuity and harmony to the design elements already present. This rug has your personal touch as a collaborative effort with the fiber artist and you will have had a direct hand in creating a one of a kind piece.
The Design. Your rug will be hand woven on a loom. It is not a hand knotted rug from the Middle or Far East. The warp locks the weft into place and forms a stable, durable fabric. Look through the examples in the gallery. We can create stripes, patterns and subtle variations. The weave can be bold and dramatic or softened with color and fabric or yarn variations in the weft. It helps if you have some examples in mind. If you found them on the Web, copy the image and e-mail it to me. If there are major departures from established designs in my studio then there may be a design charge.
The Colors. Color and texture are critical to a flat weave design. The colors we select will be the most important element in harmonizing with your existing décor. As you can see as you leaf through the gallery, scarves and scraps of fabric serve as inspirations. Send me your inspiration and we will work from there. Color is also the synergy for a technical weave to integrate it into your existing interior design. Some have used the rug they created as the focal point of their room or home. I love that because we have total design freedom.
The Size. You can specify the size up to 10′ wide and virtually any length. I have woven 45′ and the loom can accommodate more. All sizes are approximate and may vary up to 6″ in width and length.
The Material. The warp is created from multiple strands of yarn. Cotton is a traditional rug warp. Wool tends to stretch and is generally avoided as the only fiber in a warp. It can be combined with cotton, silk, bamboo, and other more stable fibers. The loft (thickness) of the rug will generally be set by the material in the weft. I like to use heavy, sturdy upholstery fabrics. If you have scraps of fabrics that may be suitable to be woven into a rug we may be able to recycle them. Between picks of upholstery I insert several strands of wool yarn. The intensity of the color of the rug is often the result of the choice of these intermixed yarns. Pure wool wefts lend themselves to showing off weaving patterns. By melding several strands of yarn together to form a single pick the density of the weave and loft can be increased. Still, the rug is generally not as thick as one that uses fabrics in the weft. Remember that we can use a combination of techniques and here we are just talking about the extremes.
Finishing. By preference I like to stabilize the warp ends with special rug latex, turn the head and foot under, and finish the rug with a “tailored” edge. You can see this in the gallery. If you want, the edge can be bound with durable cotton tape fabric or finished with a fringe at extra cost.
The Pad and Backing. It is important to place a quality foam pad under your rug for safety, durability and comfort. If you use a pad a backing is not required. You may choose to have me back the rug with burlap for stability and backing is recommended if you plan to display your rug as a hanging. There is an additional charge for backing.
Care. Vacuum or shake your rug often. Never use a vacuum with a rotary head as it may damage the carpet. Spot clean with warm water and mild soap or Resolve. I specialize in larger rugs, so washing at home is generally not recommended. Call a reputable carpet cleaner that specializes in oriental rugs. If you are going to use the rug in areas where liquid spills are likely, consider applying a protective finish such as Scotchgard™ or DuPont Teflon™ Advanced.
Shipping. Fidalgo Island Fiber Art rugs are generally large enough they must be shipped by common carrier. In those cases where the finished piece will be accepted by UPS or FEDEX, I will use one of these companies. The client is responsible for the shipping costs. Until the rug is finished we won’t know the precise size and weight.
Placing an Order. Call or e-mail me using the Inquiry & Custom Order Form with your questions and design ideas. I cannot quote a price until I know the size, materials and complexity of the design. As a rule of thumb, the price of the rug will be between $50 and $100 per square foot. If you need a special design I will ask for a design deposit. I will prepare a drawing and send a color swatch board. With your design deposit I will reserve a slot for you in the production schedule. If you choose to use one of my designs and allow me to select colors and textures to harmonize with the inspiration piece you send then a deposit of 50% of the final rug price will secure your place in the production queue. If your project is a design from scratch then the 50% deposit will be tendered when the design is mutually accepted. During the weaving process I will e-mail photographs of the work in progress. When the rug comes off of the loom and is ready to ship the remaining 50% is due plus the shipping costs and extra charges for backing and special binding. I will begin weaving as soon as possible after mutual acceptance of the design and color palette. You should expect your rug in eight to twelve weeks after placing a firm order. You may visit your rug at my studio anytime during the weaving process.
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